15 Dec Effective Teamwork Starts with Team Building by Megan Campbell, MPA, GPC

Starting a collaborative grant project that requires the successful coordination of team effort can feel daunting. While teamwork can improve myriad business functions, positively impact program delivery and outcomes, and drive organizational growth, implementing collaborative projects without a hitch is often a big challenge. It is no secret that teams often struggle with unfocused vision, lack of clarity and communication related to goals or deliverables, and waiting for other team members to do their part. However, one of the easiest ways to build a foundation for collaborative success is to ensure you have the right people on the team at the beginning.

Strengths-Based Team Building

Project teams should be representative of people invested in the project’s success and who also bring different strengths and points of view to the proverbial table. No one person on the team needs to have all the answers. Where one team member’s strength may be analyzing budgets or data, another’s strength may be relating to clients or community partners. Be sure to recruit team members whose strengths complement each other. A successful team will have equal parts vision, passion, enthusiasm, attention to data or detail, organizational skill, and ability to execute tasks. This will expand a team’s knowledge and creative power and build buy-in from individuals who are valued for what they bring to the project.

Consider these three team-building strategies:

Build Teams with a Balance of Expertise and Passion

In “The Science of Teamwork” from The American Journal of Health Promotion (2021), researcher Sara Johnson points to team chemistry and connectedness as elements of a high-functioning team. Give team members time to get to know each other before diving into a project. Allowing team members time to form connections and recognize each other’s strengths amplifies feelings of being “in this together” and increases both engagement and productivity.

Manage Expectations

When building a team, avoid role ambiguity. Use individual strengths to identify and assign the team’s priorities and who will be responsible for each task as action steps are outlined. Define what measurable outcomes or deliverables will be produced, set a reasonable timeline and expectations for response to team communications, and make sure every team member is informed.

Set the Stage

From the start, ensure a safe and transparent workspace where team members are recognized and valued for the unique knowledge and skills they contribute as well as free to share their thoughts, feelings, or fears related to project outcomes. Keith Ferrazzi, founder of the national team coaching firm, Ferrazzi Greenlight, points to four characteristics of resilient teams: candor, resourcefulness, compassion, and humility.

Learn more about the stages of group development, the power of partnerships, motivational interviewing strategies to support effective teamwork, managing up, and a variety of other topics with AGS online training sessions available on demand.

If you are interested in grant services, training, or federal review services, or are interested in our career opportunities,  Julie Assel, CGMS, GPC, President/CEO, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you with a quote for grant services.

This blog post is aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills.

3.01. Identify methods of soliciting and incorporating meaningful substantive input and contributions by stakeholders

3.02. Identify methods of building partnerships and facilitating collaborations among co-applicants

3.03. Identify strategies for educating key personnel about financial and programmatic accountability to comply with funder requirements

4.03. Identify project management strategies for submitting high-quality and complete proposals on time

6.02. Identify effective practices for key functions of grant management

6.03. Differentiate roles and responsibilities of project and management staff and other key personnel affiliated with grant projects

8.04. Identify methods for collaborative efforts among the grant manager, program manager, and support staff during funder site visits and site evaluations